1-800-Flowers.com Posts Quarterly Gains

Multititle marketer 1-800-Flowers.com (Nasdaq: FLWS) reported an 8% increase in first-quarter sales. For the three months ended March 30, revenue was $124.1 million, compared with $115.4 million for the first quarter of 2002. Online revenue increased 14%, to $64.6 million from $56.9 million. Telephonic revenue increased 3%, to $52.3 million from $50.7 million.

Net income for the Westbury, NY-based marketer, which also owns the Plow & Hearth, Magic Cabin Dolls, Hearthsong, and Popcorn Factory catalogs, increased 617%, to $1.2 million from $165,000 a year ago. The company attributes the gains to increased revenues and higher gross profit margins.

During the quarter, which included Valentine’s Day, the company says it attracted 680,000 new customers, with more than 60% of orders coming online.